Southern XC Round 2 - Wasing 22.05.11 (inclu. Southern Champs)

I was quite excited about this race, as I had raced there last year at a round of the Southern XC Series and got 2nd! That race being my first one since ages, because of this I was fairly convinced that this course suited me well.

Once I practiced the course, I realised how fast the racing was going to be. With only a couple of short hills near the start of the lap, and the rest being flat, it was going to be fast! Also the start section was a long tarmac strait and then a long fast fire-track, with both of those parts making up the first minute and a half of racing! This made me look forward to the start because of how manic and fast it was going to be.

As it happened, after having a good warm up (with club members and the rest of the field), I did have a good start. However I only held the lead for about the first 20 or 30 so metres, I was then overtook by a few, but by digging deap I held my position well and on entering the first bit of singletrack, I was in 3rd.

Ahead of me was (in 1st place at the time) Harry Franklin and (a bit further back) Sam Stean. However I think Sam Stean decided to slow his pace a bit and ended up forming a group with me, and Joe Broadhead, which we held together for the remainder of the race.

The group I was in now, consisted of Me, Samuel Stean and Joe Broadhead. I think we worked well and when you are in a group like that, it always helps to keep the pace high. We were together mostly, with a few gaps here and there, until the last minute of the race. I was planning to make a break, but was caught out when Sam Stean went a bit earlier than me, however I managed to latch on and we (Sam and me) had a 10 metres or so gap on Joe.

On entering a gravel turn into the finish field, I had to break heavily after not expecting the slippery turn (because I was hiding behind Sam). This made Sam get a good gap on me and Joe overtake me, despite all this we were all within 10 metres of each other. I lost the group sprint, but still left the race with a pleasing 4th.

I think this is one of those races which I was kinda happy with the result, but know that I could have done better. Also, coincidently these races (for most racers), are the races in which riders look back on and take the lessons learnt into future races.

Overall I am happy with how this season is panning out and am especially pleased with being able to keep with a group of second years near the front of the race. There is a link to a FlickR album below, where all the pictures are.

FlickR Album

Au-revoir and Thanks for Reading!